FAQ’s

Q. What can XL Building offer me?

A.

An extensive business network of suppliers, trades, installers and experts that they draw on as required for your project.

Understanding of the technical aspects of construction in detail and knowing how houses work. We can assess your project and explain what is involved, as well as identify potential problems and provide solutions.

Extensive knowledge of and experience using the latest products and materials. We keep up-to-date and can help you make the selections that will work best for your project and budget.

Familiarity with the regulations and codes in your council area and how the system works.

Consultation with you to determine the right budget for your project. We know through experience the cost of materials and labor and therefore are in the best position to offer realistic cost effective construction, to achieve your goals.

A written contract that clearly describes the work, materials to be used, timelines, price, responsibilities of both parties and other details as appropriate.

The ability to organise and manage a project – scheduling workers, trades and delivery of materials; keeping track of expenses; maintaining a clean and safe work site; and minimising the inconvenience to you. When necessary, we know how to deal with the unexpected and the surprises that sometimes occur in a custom project.

Most importantly, prioritising the customer. We listen carefully so we know what you want. We explain the process so you know what to expect, and once the work begins we give you regular updates so you always know what’s going on. We also encourage you to voice any questions or concerns you may have as the work progresses. In brief, we work for you and with you to make sure that you are satisfied and happy with the final results.

Q. Where do I start?

A.
It’s great to gather ideas by looking at lots of designs.

But it’s best to start with a solid ‘base’ design. Head over to our plans section HERE to have a flick through some plans and gather some ideas.

Q. What type of construction work does XL Building do?

A.
XL Building specialises in designing and building extensions and new homes tailored to our clients’ every need.

Even though building custom projects is far more technical and involved than building standard homes as offered by Melbourne’s larger builders, we love the challenge and have the experience needed to complete your job.

Q. How many jobs does XL Building do a year?

A.

Custom projects are very involved and require heavy commitment from the builder.
For this reason, we only do a limited number of projects each year, ensuring that we remain fully focused on your home.

Q. How long will it take to build or extend my home?

A.
All of our homes are assessed individually in regards to timelines and this is reflected in your contract.
Prior to designing a plan, it is rather difficult to estimate a timeline on a unique project.

At XL Building, all of our Melbourne extensions and new homes are unique and are designed to meet our customers every need.

Every one of our projects is unique, and factors such as the size and complexity of your project will have a large bearing on the time required to complete your home to a high standard. Generally, for custom new homes, we expect to achieve the following time frames:

Concept design and pricing proposal – 6 to 10 weeks

Design Documentation – 4 to 6 months

Construction – 7 to 12 months

Town Planning is needed for some jobs and will require extra time. Each council is different and therefore it is difficult to provide a timeframe. However, our designers are experienced with the various Council requirements around Melbourne and along with our Town Planning Professional are able to provide the necessary Town Planning drawings and accelerate the issuing of a permit.
At XL Building we understand that time frames and deadlines are very important to our customers. Before commencing your project, a project schedule is produced specific to your job.
The schedule allows for a realistic construction period which allows us to complete your home to the desired level you would expect and the quality that we are famous for.

Our construction deadlines are Guaranteed and Documented as part of your contract.

How does XL Building achieve their Guaranteed Deadline CLICK HERE to find out more.

Q. How much will my job cost?

A.

As all of our homes are tailored to the individual needs of each client, it is not possible to give an average price indication without some further information. Head over to our Online Budget Calculator. It’s a great starting point and you can access it for free HERE

Our design process offers a money back guarantee. At the beginning of the process, you a presented with a concept drawing and price estimate. If you are unhappy with either, then we will refund you.

Our estimates are produced by a Professional Estimator. This ensures that they are accurate and in line with Industry Standards. This gives you the confidence to continue with the planning process knowing that your price is accurate.

Q. Why must I use a Registered Builder?

A.

Because only Registered Building Practitioners meet the legal requirements to carry out domestic building work over $5,000 in Victoria. You can be confident Registered Building Practitioners have the qualifications, knowledge and experience, and domestic building insurance (where works exceed $16,000).

Identifying a Registered Building Practitioner is easy too – just look for the logo or ask to see their official photo identification. Or to find a Registered Building Practitioner, use the practitioner search on Building Commission website.

Q. How does the price of a Melbourne Extension compare to Relocating or Knocking Down & Rebuilding?

A.
The statistics below can be used as a rough price indication when comparing the three:

A few other considerations:

Do you like the area you currently live in?

Do your kids go to school nearby?

Do you have friends nearby?

Have you established gardens?

Is your family growing?

Older houses in Melbourne, with or without extensions hold their value better than new homes. Melbourne extensions are often a much faster alternative to building new home in Melbourne.

Q. Will my price change after the contract is signed?

A.
Your quoted price will only change if an allowance has been made for an item in the contract and you go over or under that allowance. In this case, you will either be charged or reimbursed this amount.

Our Specifications / Inclusions Selection process ensures that what is selected prior to contract signing is EXACTLY what you will get at completion with no extra charges. For this reason, it is important to make as many selections prior to your tender being issued.

Price increases may occur if you decide to upgrade items during construction. We understand that what may have seemed like a good choice prior to commencement is in actual fact not exactly what you desired. For this reason, we offer you the flexibility to make changes during construction.

You will always be notified of a price increase and we will never proceed with any changes that incur extra costs without your electronic approval via our On-line client portal. You can view a short video of how our Customer Portal works HERE

Q. What are Specifications?

A.Specifications are detailed descriptions of the materials and products you want to be used in your project.

Specifications or an Inclusions List is a very important part of your quote, as eventually it will make up part of your contract. Vague inclusions lists leave the home owner open to a mountain of possible variations throughout the construction process. This can lead to: delays, a large cost increase, or worse a budget blow-out leaving you with an unfinished home that you cannot afford to complete.

Our Inclusions List for a standard new Melbourne home is usually 30 pages +.

Our Inclusions Selection process is unique and our customers love the convenience of being able to make selections in the comfort of their own home.

Not only is it convenient, but our online selection process logs your selections immediately and informs the builder of your selection. This allows the builder ample time to organise your choice items and it eliminates nearly any chance of time over runs for choices made during construction.
Watch a short video of our online customer software HERE.

Q. How do I compare quotes and choose a Melbourne Extension builder or Melbourne New Home Builder?

A.
If you haven’t already download my FREE Building Guide HERE. It’s packed full of useful information to help you through the construction process. DON’T sign a building contract until you have read it!

When choosing a builder, many people are tempted to compare the square metre rate. Let me give you 2 reasons why this is a BIG mistake…

Reason #1: Think back to a time you bought something by the metre. Perhaps it was some carpet, material for a dress or curtains, or a length of rope at the hardware store. Let me ask you this question: when comparing different carpets (or materials or ropes… or whatever) did the per metre price vary much? Of course it did. Why?

It’s obvious – different types of carpet (or material or rope… or houses) are very different in quality. One carpet may be made of wool while another is synthetic. One type of material may be handmade while another may come from an automated machine. And one rope may have a breaking strain of 1 ton while another can’t hold 100kg.

An average home contains hundreds of different ‘ingredients’ including carpet, bricks, tiles, taps, sinks, paint, timber, glass etc. And all of these materials come in different qualities. On top of that, the way in which these materials are assembled into a finished house differs in quality and attention to detail.

The variances are almost infinite. So comparing one builder’s price of $1,000 per square metre to another’s price of $2,000 per square metre is exactly like trying to compare an apple with a banana. The differences are many, not just the price.

Reason #2: Every house design is different. Some houses are square, some houses are ‘L’ shaped, and others have many different angles and shapes. While 3 different houses may all have the same internal dimension (square metres) the quantity of building materials that go into these homes will vary greatly in quantity depending on the shape.

Compare these two designs…

Both have an internal area of 200 square metres. But the house on the right has 78% greater wall area and will require more guttering, more bricks, and metres more gyprock. It will probably have more windows and doors. And it will need at least several litres more paint.

So don’t be fooled into trying to compare house prices via square metre rates. The variables are too great. And you may find you end up with a banana when you really wanted an apple.

The right builder can give you great design ideas that add impact and style without increasing the price. If you’d like to talk about design ideas we offer a Free Design Consultation. Head over to our Contacts Page to organise a consultation or call our office on 1300 952 845 to make an appointment.

Q. How does XL Building ensure a smooth Construction Process?

A.
Talk to people who have built a house and you’ll be surprised how many tell you: DON’T DO IT!!

All Melbourne builders appear to be qualified, experienced and professional. And they seem so helpful at first. But when you sign the contract, things can go downhill fast.

Here are some of the biggest complaints we hear…

Time Delays: This can be so frustrating, and end up costing you a lot of money. Building a home and moving for example is a complicated project. You have to coordinate lots of things including the sale of your current house (or end of rent period), packing, holidays, removalists, friends to help… and a whole lot more. A delay with your new home affects every one of those things. It can even leave you at risk of being left homeless.

Budget Blowout: When you sign a contract, you assume everything is covered. So you do your sums and arrange finance accordingly. That’s why it’s so frustrating when your Melbourne builder suddenly tells you about the extras required to finish your new home. It may not seem like much at first, but when you add $500 here and $1,000 there… your bank balance is quickly drained and you can find yourself juggling bills just to get your house finished.

Incorrect Appliances and Accessories: Choosing appliances, accessories and colours takes time. You visit several shops, talk with experts, and make choices that match. So when the tiler fails to check the tiles that were delivered and glues the wrong ones to your floor, what are you supposed to do? You suddenly find yourself in a no-win battle of the blame game. And it often ends with you compromising or paying extra to have things removed and replaced.

Ask around and you’ll discover these things happen ALL THE TIME.

But they can be easily avoided with proper management and communication systems. We use an online system that logs all communication between client, suppliers, tradespeople and builder. Every decision is logged in real-time. Colours, models, measurements– all the details available for everyone to check.

Without this system we’d make mistakes too. So be sure to check your Melbourne builder has a professional management and communication system. And that he has the skill and discipline to use it properly.

If not, be prepared to suffer all the horror stories you hear from others. They are all true. But with the right systems they can so easily be avoided.

Q. If my house is being extended or Renovated and I am living there, is there anything I need to do or should be aware of as the home owner?

A.
If you are planning a Melbourne home extension or Melbourne Home Renovation and have decided to remain in the building during construction there are a few things that you should be aware of.

Most importantly, discuss your situation with your Extension Builder or Renovation Builder. Depending on the scope of works being conducted, it may not be safe and therefore not possible for you to remain in occupation.

Once you have discussed this option with your Renovation or Melbourne Extension builder and have the option of living in, there are a few things to be aware of.

Keep in mind that, living in your home whilst it is under construction can be messy and sometimes stressful.

But rest assure, we are Experienced Extension Builders and with our tailored progress schedules, we are able to construct your home in a sequence that is of minimal inconvenience to you.

Safety is another major factor for us. Nearly all of our customers have young families and it is imperative that our sites are kept organized. At the end of each day the site will be left tidy and secure.

Q. Do I need to notify my insurance company in regard to my homeowners’ policy?

A.
Typically, a homeowner’s insurance plan is based on ‘regular usage of the home’. However, a Melbourne extension or renovation is an ‘extraordinary’ event that may fall outside your present agreement. That’s why it is important to inform your insurance company about the proposed renovation and clarify how it might affect your coverage.

Generally, a homeowner’s policy allows for repairs and renovations without jeopardising coverage.

However, there are specific items you should discuss with your insurance representative.

Q. Why should I use a Melbourne builder when designing my project?

A.
Would you like to save thousands on your new home? Here’s a valuable design tip…

Use a builder when designing your new home.

Why?

Well, did you know 80% of architectural plans never come to fruition?

You see, an architect focuses on what a home will look like. The design. The problem is, they rarely factor in the costs. So what you end up with is a design that can quickly become…

Very Expensive to Build

Think about it: architects are trained to be visionaries. They ‘live’ to create the ‘perfect house’. That’s what you pay themfor. But, they are not always focussed on the practicalities of building –how much extra time and money certain design elements may take.

And the reality is, they get paid for the design they create whether you end up using it or not.
There is a way to fuse vision with the practicalities of building. With a few small modifications, you can often achieve the same ‘design result’ for a lot less money.

When you have a builder take care of your design, you get the best of both worlds…

A design that is beautiful and functional
And a design that is affordable to build

The advice of a builder during the design stage is invaluable. And it will save you money and time whilst delivering a beautifuland practical design.

Sourcing your own plans is a long, stressful and time consuming journey, We eliminate all of this and deliver design and build packages which are completed:

Quicker

Cheaper

Hassle free, and

With our money back guarantee, Risk Free!

Best of all its easy to get started, just call us on 1300 952 845 to begin.